Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Have Cell Phones Restructured Our Lives?
I think the common answer to that question would be yes, of course it has. Nowadays we are essentially connected on a global scale to everyone. Work and leisure have become blurred, friendships are reduced to illegible text messages, and info is disseminate so quickly through these the devices ( ie. facebook on your cellphone) that it is hard to imagine a world with out them. It's almost as if we are constrained by this technology, no freedom to roam as an individual. But is that the case? Is our sense of reality that much different than before they came on to the market? The cell phone is merely a more advanced replication of a land line phone and before that morse code and so on. People still recieved calls from overseas marketers, their boss or a drunk friend from a pay phone back before there was cell phones. In no way have cell phones reduced our freedom as some may argue, in fact they have given us more, you can't turn off a land line the same way you can turn off your cell phone.
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Tyler’s blog raises the question: Have cell phones restructured our lives? While reading his blog I felt that he was leaning towards criticizing these “new technological phenomenon” as he put it, however, I was shocked to his response when he sided with these small, sleek, and sophisticated new technologies. Tyler discusses the notion that cell phones have not, in any way reduced our freedom. However, I disagree I think that cell phones have had a consequential impact on our freedom as well they have altered our everyday lives.
I find it amusing to preach that Cell phones have given us freedom compared to phones back in the day because who would of thought that a small technological device could control and rule our world. In some sense I can relate to Tyler’s belief that our freedom has been enhanced rather than decreased. In today’s society we can walk out the door and still be connected to a piece of technology, continuing our everyday tasks such as going to the store, driving, walking the dogs, and so forth. It is amazing how there are no restrictions to where and when communication can take place. But could this not be a problem? Tyler describes cell phones as tools that have altered certain aspects of our lives, but says they have not restructured our freedom, and concludes that it is easier to turn a cell phone off rather than a land line. I think even Zack Morris would agree with me that cell phones have become to us like that of a child. I would like to raise the question of how many people turn off their cell phones in class, knowing they will not be using them? Hardly anyone because if someone texts, or calls them they don’t want to be disconnected or feel that they have lost touch even for one moment, because cell phones have become the center of our world. We are being trained to be dependant and connected with technology at all times. We are never allowed to be in reality without some type of technology altering our realism or our sense of space, or time. Sure, we have gained access to quantifiable information and communication but because of this we are never free to experience our reality the way it should be experienced. Let’s examine the use of a phone for business purposes, this is an evident case where cell phones constrain and trap us into a world of power and control. In this case, someone wants to contact you every minute of the day in regards to work, therefore, someone is expecting you to pick up. Is that not a form of control, thus, a lack of freedom? If I am to be glued to a piece of plastic for the majority of my life you can count me out! It appears to me that work, or socializing, through the means of cell phones have become an addiction and society has accepted these values, and behaviours. Therefore, I do not think Tyler has evaluated the danger that these devices have brought forth to our sanity and our freedom. If our freedom is our cell phone (because that is what allows us to access and communicate with one another) then this premise would conclude that we are not physically or socially free from cell phones. Some as Tyler may disagree and say that Technology has increased our freedom by allowing us to experience and socialize on a global scale. However, I agree with Foccault and his critique regarding new IT in which it has undermined our freedom. He suggests that new technology means one needs to adapt their behaviour to it. Therefore, one is not free to do as they please. One is free to follow technology which is a necessity in order to survive in our technologically dependant world.
You made some very excellent points Jenna, in particular the example of cell phones in class. It's true, we are tied religiously to our gadgets because they are our connection to a fast paced option filled world that demands constant updates, confirmations and info.Nevertheless I will continue to push my idea that although we feel constrained and controlled by cell phones, the choice is solely in the hands of the owner to construct ones own reality and freedom. People may feel the need to conform to social practices such as owning a cell phone ( it is kinda weird when someone doesn't have one) and when you say we are NEVER able to experience reality the way it should be experienced I have little empathy. I still feel they enhance our freedom. For example, today's work environment has shifted away from long term stable employment towards contracted diverse alternatives. Although this adds an element of risk to life, it also ensures a more rewarding experience, because to me, forty years in the same cubical doing the same work is not freedom, its kind of like a prison. I will happily blur my work and leisure if that means I can do my job from home or on the other side of the world. Overall, how enhanced or controlled ones freedom becomes with the use of a cell phones or any other IT devices is based on the individual, not the device itself. I may be turning the other cheek when it comes to the effects cell phones have on my own life and that may be what Kierkegaard was implying when talking of IT's ability to undermine any action because of its ever changing pattern of development and improvement.
Hi Tyler,
Although you make a good point when you say that people can't turn off landlines but have the option with cell phones, I think that certain politics involved with cell phone use do actually restraint our freedom.
For instance, if you have a cell phone people assume that you're reachable - always and almost expect if of you. If your manager phones you from work on your cell phone and you miss the call they generally assume that you screened their call (which you very well may have done), however on a landline, this is more forgivable.
Parents who buy cell phones for their children, expect that they can get ahold of them whenever they please and often, such as in the case of circa 2001 me, they use these devices as a leash.
Yes, you the user has the ability to construct their own "freedom" but I think with their increased dependancy we are losing our power of choice. Certain jobs require that you have a cell phone, society expects you to have a cell phone so I feel as though we are losing control of how we allow these devices to affect our lives.
I personally hate cell phones, I stupidly signed up for a 3 year contract 2 years ago and don't even use my phone, I hate feeling like I'm obligated to answer people's text messages and phone calls and I think they are way too invasive. Also, I've noticed how socially awkward people get without these extensions, it's almost as though they feel naked without their phone latched onto their ear and I think that's unhealthy (I often see this on transit).
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